Find happiness in herbs

There are so many ways to bring new life to your space. Introduce a mediterranean vibe by repainting walls or woodwork in bright colours. Similarly with accessories, add pops of colour with new pots, plants or classic stripes to old garden chairs with new cushions. Or maybe it’s time to finally replace those chairs with hardworking pieces you can potentially use inside or outside.

Now that your outside area is more presentable, just imagine being able to serve up salads with your very own home grown basil or garnish your lemonade or summer cocktails with mint cut fresh from your garden?

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, you can create the perfect environment for a variety of herbs that thrive in the sun and milder temperatures. It’s a very rewarding way to elevate your entertaining, culinary creations or your living space. With the right herbs and containers, you can cultivate a fragrant and functional herb garden. Before covering the types of herbs you can grow, along with suggestions for suitable containers, it’s important that you create the right conditions to enable your herbs to thrive from day one.

Soil: Ensure that the soil is well-drained, especially for outdoor containers, as herbs don’t like sitting in water.

Sunlight: Most herbs need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Position your pots or containers in areas where they get ample sunlight, whether indoors or outside.

Watering: Be mindful not to overwater. Herbs prefer slightly dry conditions, so let the soil dry out between waterings.

Pruning: Prune your herbs regularly to encourage growth. Trim the leaves for use in cooking, and they will continue to produce fresh foliage.

Once you feel you’re ready to plant, which herbs do you choose? No herb garden is complete without Rosemary. This is an amazingly fragrant herb, its needle-like leaves add depth to meats, potatoes, and soups. It grows in a drained soil and full sun. Basil is an extremely versatile herb, hence its popularity in many kitchens. Although it needs full sun, it’s ideal for adding a mediterranean flavour to your cooking or as mentioned, a key ingredient in homemade pesto. The other favourite is mint. A hardy herb, it will grow quickly, preferably in a container rather than in a garden bed, where it can be invasive. Plant it now in time for your summer teas, cocktails and fruit salads. Lastly, thyme is a low growing herb but ideal for rock gardens or containers. This will be in abundance for your early Autumn roasts, stews and soups. Oregano, Parsley and Chives are also worth considering and will add vibrancy and aromas of any herb garden. Try seedsireland.ie where you can source all your herbs and flower seeds at reasonable prices.

Choosing the right containers is essential for your herbs to grow. You probably already have suitable pots but new ones are available at reasonable price points in garden centres, hardware stores and selected supermarkets. We have included some online links below.

Indoor Containers

A set of small pots is perfect for growing individual herbs indoors. Choose pots that have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.

Windowsills provide ample sunlight, making them an ideal spot for herbs. Long, narrow planters are a great way to grow multiple herbs in one space, saving room while allowing each plant to thrive.

If you have limited counter space, hanging baskets can be a creative solution. These are particularly good for herbs like mint or thyme, which can spill over the sides beautifully.

For those not used to minding plants, self-watering planters are a great option. They reduce the need for constant attention, ensuring your herbs get the right amount of moisture.

Outdoor Containers

Without a traditional garden, raised beds are a fantastic alternative, allowing for better drainage and soil control.

For herbs like rosemary, basil, and oregano, larger pots give their roots room to grow. Wooden barrels or clay pots are ideal as they maintain temperature and moisture levels.

If you have limited space but still want to grow a variety of herbs, vertical planters are a smart solution, maximising your gardening area. Equally, hanging planters are perfect for patios or balconies. They allow you to grow a variety of herbs in a compact and visually appealing arrangement.

So, armed with the knowledge, suitable pots & containers, you really have no excuse not to grow your own herbs. Except of course the Irish weather! Hopefully the temperatures will rise and we’ll see enough good weather to sit outside in our brighter outdoor space and watch our herb gardens thrive, green fingers crossed!